Euro firms as Greek drama grinds on; stocks dip
HONG KONG, June 13 (Reuters) - The euro bounced on Monday, though its gains appeared short-lived as major European powers continue to haggle over a fresh rescue package for Greece, while Asian stocks extended a seven-week losing streak on fears the global recovery is losing steam.
Asian stocks outside Japan fell 0.6 percent to a 2-1/2 month low as weak global economic data and fresh worries about Greece weighed on investor confidence.

India's May vegoil imports seen up as local supply falls
NEW DELHI, June 10 (Reuters) - India's vegetable oil imports may have risen by 37 percent in May, the second straight monthly rise, as local supply dropped on depleting oilseeds stocks ahead of the summer planting season, a trend that is likely to continue next month, a Reuters survey showed on Friday.
Palm oil imports, which account for the bulk of India's cooking purchases, are expected to have risen 50 percent in May over the previous month, according to a survey of eight traders.

Wheat up 1 pct, corn rises on supply squeeze, weather
SINGAPORE, June 13 (Reuters) - U.S. wheat futures rose 1.2 percent on Monday, while corn firmed to trade near last week's all-time highs as concerns over tightening grain supplies and harsh crop weather continued to buoy the grain markets.
"Corn prices are too high and livestock producers are switching from corn to feed wheat. It is a supportive factor for wheat prices," said Ker Chung Yang, a commodities analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore.

Spain grain farmers eye good crop, tight supply
MADRID, June 10 (Reuters) - Spanish grain farmers expect to reap the benefits of producing their best harvest for three years this summer just as global supplies are tightening and driving prices higher.
Asaja recalled in a statement that the International Grains Council forecasts for global supply of 1.803 billion tonnes in the 2011/12 market year would fall slightly short of 1.812 billion in consumption.

Oil dips as investors eye U.S. economy, Saudi output
Singapore, June 13 - Oil edged lower on Monday, with Brent below $119, as growing investor concern about a slowdown in the United States and other industrialised economies combined with expectations that top exporter Saudi Arabia would increase output.
"Saudi Arabia is going to attempt to increase oil production and there are ongoing concerns about a global economic slowdown," said Serene Lim, an oil analyst at ANZ in Singapore.

China May natgas imports up 130 pct; gas to power rises
BEIJING, June 13 (Reuters) - China imported 2.6 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas in May, up 130 percent from a year earlier and up 0.6 percent from April on a daily basis, data from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) showed on Monday.
Gas pumped in from central Asia via a transnational pipeline accounted for half of the imports, and gas bought in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) made up the rest.

Copper ends up in anticipation of China trade data
NEW YORK/LONDON, June 9 (Reuters) - Copper eked out a modest gain by the close on Thursday, as expectations for a rebound in Chinese imports counterbalanced the negative macro-economic impact from weekly U.S. jobless claims figures.
"It's a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy economic landscape, so it suggests that the U.S. economy is getting support from a least one quarter -- the trade sector," said Peter Buchanan, commodities analyst and senior economist at CIBC in Toronto.

Chile copper mine struggles after strike violence
SANTIAGO, June 12 (Reuters) - Output at Chile's El Teniente mine, the world's No. 5 copper deposit, remained well below capacity on Sunday as staffing was limited by renewed violence from striking contractors, mine owner Codelco said.
The state miner had expected to return to full production this weekend, but protester violence on Friday led the company to hold many workers back from the 404,000 tonnes-a-year mine.

China lead pollution outbreak poisons 103 children
BEIJING, June 12 (Reuters) - Lead pollution from workshops in eastern China seriously poisoned 103 children and has affected hundreds of other residents in the country's latest case of unfettered industrial toxins, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.
The pollution from tinfoil-making workshops in Yangxunqiao town in Zhejiang province left the children, aged 14 or younger, with 250 microgrammes or more of lead for every litre of blood.

Boeing eyes aluminum hedging amid market volatility
NEW YORK, June 10 (Reuters) - Boeing Co may decide within the next year to begin hedging aluminum prices on the London Metals Exchange (LME) in order to reduce volatility in its costs, a senior executive said on Friday.
If initiated, the company intends to use the new hedging program on its long-term agreements, John Byrne, an executive with the company's commercial airplanes unit, told Reuters.

Gold holds steady as U.S. dollar slips
SINGAPORE, June 13 (Reuters) - Gold held steady in thin trade on Monday as the euro bounced against the U.S. dollar, but needs to surpass recent peaks to sustain an uptrend fuelled largely by a debt crisis in Europe.
"I think it is still looking for sufficient momentum and a catalyst that's needed for it to break the $1,550 level on a sustained basis," said Ong Yi Ling, investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore.

China energy imports robust in May, but copper weak
SHANGHAI/BEIJING, June 10 (Reuters) - China showed robust demand for crude oil and coal in May, shrugging off higher prices to boost imports by more than 20 percent, but its appetite for overseas copper supplies remained sickly and iron ore buying showed signs of ending a strong run.
Economists are watching closely for signs of slowing economic growth in China, which would reduce demand for raw materials, as the government tightens the money supply to prevent inflation.

GLOBAL MARKETS: Debt worries keep euro under pressure; stocks dip
HONG KONG, June 13 (Reuters) - The euro stayed under pressure and Asian stocks weakened in early trades on Monday on renewed worries over the global economy and concern that protracted wrangling in the euro zone could delay a solution to Greece's debt crisis.
Despite Asian stocks outside Japan > dipping to a 2-1/2 month low, bargain-minded investors stayed on the sidelines due to a stream of bad news from the euro zone's festering debt crisis, the sputtering U.S. economy and signs of a slowdown in growth engines like China and India.

OIL: Oil falls on more Saudi crude, strong dollar
NEW YORK, June 10 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on news Saudi Arabia was offering more oil to Asian customers, with additional pressure from a stronger dollar and weak equities.
"Saudi Arabia is offering oil even though OPEC didn't have an agreement on production," said Hamza Khan, analyst at the Schork Group in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

NATURAL GAS: Natgas ends up 2 pct, shorts cover ahead of weekend
NEW YORK, June 10 (Reuters) - Front-month U.S. natural gas futures ended higher , backed by short covering ahead of the weekend despite milder weather next week, particularly for the Northeast and Midwest, that should slow demand.
"The market rebounded a bit after yesterday's sell off, but there's still some above normal temps ahead," a southern-based commodity trading advisor said, noting heat was expected to remain in Texas and the South next week.

EURO COAL: Prices dip, Aug ARA trades at $124.25/T
LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - Coal prices were 75 cents to $1.50 lower after a $3 fall in oil and amid a lack of demand for standard-grade coal, particularly in Europe.
"Swaps and physical aren't talking to one another. The question is how long can this disconnection continue before something gives?" one utility source said.

COMMODITIES: Down on demand worry, dollar; US oil below $100
NEW YORK, June 10 (Reuters) - Most commodities fell , with oil and copper hitting two-week lows on selling sparked by a strong dollar and worries about supply exceeding demand.
U.S. crude oil fell almost 3 percent to below $99 per barrel on news that Saudi Arabia was offering more oil to Asian customers. The market had rallied above $100 in two previous sessions after producers in OPEC failed to agree with a Saudi plan to hike production.

Malaysia, Indonesia imports to lift Asia LNG price
SINGAPORE, June 10 (Reuters) - Already strong Asian liquefied natural gas prices will get a further fillip as Indonesia and Malaysia, the world's second- and third-biggest exporters, turn to imports to feed local demand.
Indonesia is building LNG import terminals with capacity of nearly 10 million tonnes, while Malaysia expects to receive its first shipment in 2013. This about-turn is happening just as Japan cranks up gas-fired power plants to make up for lost nuclear generation.

China energy imports robust in May, but copper weak
SHANGHAI/BEIJING, June 10 (Reuters) - China showed robust demand for crude oil and coal in May, shrugging off higher prices to boost imports by more than 20 percent, but its appetite for overseas copper supplies remained sickly and iron ore buying showed signs of ending a strong run.
Economists are watching closely for signs of slowing economic growth in China, which would reduce demand for raw materials, as the government tightens the money supply to prevent inflation.

India: Industrial output growth slows; rate pressure stays
India’s industrial production growth eased in April, a slowdown that has yet to curb pressure for more interest-rate increases to damp inflation. Output at factories, utilities and mines rose 6.3% from a year earlier after an 8.8% gain in March, the Central Statistical Office said in a statement in New Delhi, after it changed the base year to 2004-05. The median of 23 predictions in a Bloomberg News survey was for a 5.5% advance, based on 1993-94 prices. (Bloomberg)

China: Reports less-than-estimated USD13bn trade surplus
China reported a less-than-estimated USD13.1bn trade surplus in May, as surging imports signaled the nation’s demand may support global growth while adding pressure for higher interest rates. Inbound shipments climbed 28% from a year earlier and exports rose 19%, the customs bureau said on its website. The median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey of 23 economists was for a USD19.3bn surplus. The International Monetary Fund said last Friday that China can sustain economic growth of about 9.5% this year and next even as the government cools the real-estate market and reins in bank lending to counter inflation. (Bloomberg)

UK: Manufacturing drops on impact of holidays, Japan quake
UK manufacturing fell more than economists forecast in April as the extra public holiday for the royal wedding hurt orders and the impact of the Japanese earthquake hit supplies. Factory output dropped 1.5% from the previous month, the most since January 2009, the Office for National Statistics said in London. The median forecast of 24 economists in a Bloomberg News survey was a 0.1% decline. A separate report showed that prices at factory gates rose 0.2% in May, the least since September. (Bloomberg)

US: Obama says private sector must lead US in creating jobs
President Barack Obama said the private sector must take the lead in creating jobs as the economy recovers, with the government assisting by making sure workers have the necessary skills. “Government is not, and should not be, the main engine of job-creation in this country,” Obama said in his weekly address on the radio and Internet. “That’s the role of the private sector.” Obama said the government can work as a partner with businesses to enhance training and education for the jobs that are available. With the nation’s unemployment rate at 9.1% in May, up 0.1% from the previous month, the administration is focusing on measures that can encourage hiring. (Bloomberg)

US: Budget deficit in US narrowed to USD57.6bn in May
The US government posted a budget deficit of USD57.6bn in May, narrower than a year earlier, reflecting increasing tax revenue and a reduction in the estimated cost of the government’s financial industry bailout. In May 2010, the shortfall was USD135.9bn, according to the Treasury Department’s monthly budget statement, released in Washington. The economy has been adding jobs since October and corporate profits have climbed, leading to higher personal income and business tax collections. At the same time, the annual shortfall is projected to tie a record as spending also increases, based on data from the Congressional Budget Office. (Bloomberg)

U.S: Fed to expand annual capital exams to 35 largest banks to ensure they have an adequate buffer in an economic crisis. Bank holding companies with at least USD 50b in assets will be required to adopt "robust, forward-looking capital planning processes that account for their unique risks," the Fed said in a statement in Washington. (Source: Bloomberg)

U.S: May import prices unexpectedly rise on autos, clothing. The 0.2% MoM increase in the import-price index, its eighth consecutive gain, followed a revised 2.1% MoM climb in April. Costs advanced 12.5% YoY from May 2010, the biggest 12-month increase since September 2008. (Source: Bloomberg)

S. Korea: Bank of Korea raised interest rates for a third time this year to rein in inflation that has exceeded its target range and curb record household debt. Governor Kim Choong Soo boosted the benchmark seven-day repurchase rate to 3.25% from 3%, following quarter-percent increases in January and March, the central bank said in a statement in Seoul. (Source: Bloomberg)

Philippines: April export growth accelerated to a four-month high as rising sales of the nation's agriculture and mineral goods countered declining electronics shipments. Shipments abroad expanded 19.1% YoY in April to USD 4.3b after rising 4.1% YoY in March, the National Statistics Office said in Manila. (Source: Bloomberg)

Bumi Armada plans to raise up to USD800m from IPO
Malaysian-based international offshore oil field services contractor Bumi Armada hopes to raise between USD700m and USD800m from its IPO plan. Its CEO, Hassan Basma, said it was now ranked number eight in world, looking at the number of floating production, storage and offloading (FSPO) vessels it operates. With the new FSPO that is going to start operation in August, he said Bumi Armada would make it to number six in the ranking. He mentioned that the IPO approval from the Securities Commission is expected sometime by the mid-June, and hopes to start producing the prospectus by end of the month. (Starbiz)

ADCB may sell stake in RHBCap to Aabar
Abu Dhabi Commerical Bank (ADCB), a bank partly owned by the Emirate’s government, is mulling the sale of its 25% stake in RHBCap to Aabar Investments. The bank told the Abu Dhabi bourse yesterday that it received the approval from Bank Negara to proceed with talks with Aabar on the matter. Aabar is majority owned by the Abu Dhabi government investment vehicle, International Petroleum Investment Corp. (BT)

Mutiara eyes RM1.2bn project along Jalan Sultan Ismail
Property developer Mutiara Goodyear Development is planning an estimated RM1.2bn commercial and residential project on the prime land it is acquiring from UDA Holdings. The 1.4ha freehold site near Sheraton Imperial Hotel along Jalan Sultan Ismail here is valued at RM215.5m. Mutiara executive chairman Hamidon Abdullah said the developer planned to build offices and apartments at a cost of some RM800m. (Financial Daily)

United U-Li selling three subsidiaries to French firm for RM200m
United U-Li Corp, a manufacturer of cable support systems and light fittings, is selling all its shares in three subsidiaries for RM200m to Legrand France, SA. The group was selling its entire stakes in United U-Li (M) SB, United U-Li Steel Service Centre SB and Cable-Tray Industries (M) SB. Managing director Datuk James Lee Yoon Wah mentioned that the group was selling three of seven subsidiaries and the sales only involved the businesses and machinery of the companies. (Starbiz)

HELP, Naza jointly set up auto college
HELP International Corporation and Naza Education SB have set up a joint venture company, Symphony Haven SB, to establish and operate a college that specializes in offering courses in automotive and transportation management. HELP said the focus would initially be on Malaysia, with a view to expanding to Asean countries. “The establishment of this automotive college is part of HELP's diversification plans to offer technical and vocational training for the nation,” it added. Both parties would share the responsibility of jointly establishing the joint venture, with each having a 50% equity shareholding. (StarBiz)

Gadang unit wins RM24m contract
Gadang Holding’s subsidiary Gadang Engineering (M) SB has received a contract worth RM23.9m from Syarikat Prasarana Negara to undertake civil construction at the Sungai Buloh Depot in relation to the Klang Valley mass rapid transport project. Gadang Engineering had accepted a letter of acceptance from SPNB to undertake the project, and that the contract was to be completed within eight months. (Starbiz)

Olympia sells Johor land for RM80m
Olympia Industries is disposing of 15.25 ha of freehold land in Johor Baru for RM80m cash to Adawan Development SB in order to reduce its debts. It said that the land was acquired in December 1989 and was an unconverted development land zoned for residential and commercial use located about 5km north-east of the Johor Baru city centre. The group said the land was one of several earmarked assets which had been identified as a significant divestment asset subsequent to the implementation of Olympia Industries’ restructuring scheme to meet its obligations under the said scheme. (Starbiz)

Singapore ready to sell more electricity to Malaysia
Singapore has signalled willingness to let its power generating firms sell electricity to neighbouring Malaysia but has not received any request to extend supply beyond 15 June. “In response to Tenaga Nasional's request, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) granted the approval for PowerSeraya Ltd to export electricity to Malaysia till 15 June 2011,” EMA said on Friday in reply to a Reuters query. (Starbiz)

PJI subsidiary bags RM10.6m sub-contract from UEM
PJI Holdings’ wholly-owned subsidiary P.J. Indah SB has secured a sub-contract worth RM10.6m from UEM Construction SB. The sub-contract is for the supply, install, testing and commissioning and maintenance of fire protection services at the main terminal building of the KL International Airport. PJI said its wholly-owned subsidiary will offer the services at Sectors S1, S2 and S3 of KLIA for a period of 43 weeks with the completion due 14 Feb 2012. (Starbiz)

PChem: Plans production ramp-up. Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd is going all out to grab a bigger market share of the world's petrochemical products. With this in mind, it also aims to become the third largest revenue contributor to parent Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) in the long term. (Source: Business Times)

E&O: Shareholding changes in the works at E&O. Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O) is likely to see some changes in its shareholding, which could even lead to a new name appearing at the helm of the company. It is learnt that some of the major shareholders are prepared to exit the company. (Source: The Edge Financial Weekly)

Petra Energy: To undertake private placement. Petra Energy Bhd may see a new shareholder as it is set to place out a 10% stake in the company as part of its fundraising efforts. (Source: The Edge Financial Weekly)

Shares drop for 7th day; euro under pressure
HONG KONG, June 10 (Reuters) - Asian stocks fell for a seventh consecutive day led by selling in technology counters on wariness about the broader economic outlook, while the euro held above one-week lows as worries about the euro-zone's debt problems outweighed a likely interest rate rise by the European Central Bank next month. "Equity valuations are neither expensive nor cheap if you look at most markets in Asia today. I don't think valuations are flashing a buy or sell signal at this point in time," said Binay Chandgothia, chief investment officer at Principal Global Investors.

‘Perfect Storm’ May Threaten Global Economy: Roubini (Source: Bloomberg)
A “perfect storm” of fiscal woe in the U.S., a slowdown in China, European debt restructuring and stagnation in Japan may converge on the global economy, New York University professor Nouriel Roubini said. There’s a one-in-three chance the factors will combine to stunt growth from 2013, Roubini said in a June 11 interview in Singapore. Other possible outcomes are “anemic but okay” global growth or an “optimistic” scenario in which the expansion improves.

Debt Agreement in Congress Would Spur Flagging U.S. Economy, Lawmakers Say (Source: Bloomberg)
Congress could help improve the economic recovery by reaching a debt-reduction deal, lawmakers said on Sunday morning talk shows as they face an Aug. 2 deadline that risks sending the U.S. government into default. “I think that would help calm the markets and help us get to recovery,” Republican Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, chairman of the House Budget Committee, said today on CBS’s “Face the Nation” program, referring to a budget deal that would control future U.S. deficits.

Retail Sales Probably Decreased in May (Source: Bloomberg)
Sales at retailers probably fell in May as Americans bought fewer cars and elevated gasoline costs restrained consumers, reports may show this week. The 0.5 percent drop in purchases, the first decline in 11 months, would follow a 0.5 percent gain in April, according to the median forecast of 62 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News ahead of Commerce Department data June 14. Other reports may show inflation eased and manufacturing expanded.

Treasury 10-Year Yields Hold Near Six-Month Low Before Retail Sales Data (Source: Bloomberg)
Treasury 10-year yields were six basis points from this year’s low before a report that economists say will show U.S. retail sales dropped for the first time in 11 months.

US economy at tipping point,double-dip risk-Shiller
NEW YORK, June 9 (Reuters) - Recent housing and employment data suggests the U.S. economy is at a tipping point where a double-dip recession is possible and home prices could have much further to fall, a veteran economist said on Thursday.
Robert Shiller said the recent uptick in unemployment is not yet enough of a sign as to which way the recovery is heading. But if unemployment continues to rise in the coming months, it could suggest another recession.

Japan April Machine Orders Fall 3.3% on Month (Source: Bloomberg)
Japan’s machinery orders fell for the first time in four months in April, an indication that companies are reluctant to spend after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Japanese Stocks Decline Most in a Week as Toyota Forecasts 31% Profit Drop (Source: Bloomberg)
Japanese stocks declined the most in a week after Toyota Motor Corp. said profit will fall by 31 percent this year following March’s record earthquake and after machinery orders unexpectedly fell.

Bank of Korea surprises with rate rise, eyes inflation
SEOUL, June 10 (Reuters) - South Korea's central bank raised interest rates on Friday for the third time this year, surprising financial markets, as the government warned of rising inflation risks even as growth in Asia's fourth-largest economy cools.
The Bank of Korea raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent, playing down growing concerns about a slowing global economy that have persuaded three major central banks in Asia to hold rates steady this month.

Short Sales Climb to 8-Month High in Hong Kong (Source: Bloomberg)
Short selling in Hong Kong has risen to the highest level since September 2010 as concerns of slowing Chinese economic growth and further monetary-policy tightening intensify, according to a report from Data Explorers. Borrowed shares have risen to 12.2 percent of stock available for lending as of June 7, compared with 8.8 percent in January, Data Explorers, a New York-based research provider, wrote in a report June 9. The increase comes as Chinese companies listed in Hong Kong, Canada and the U.S. face pressure from short sellers amid allegations of lax corporate governance and fraud.

Greek Default Would Not Destabilize the Euro, Bundesbank’s Weidmann Says (Source: Bloomberg)
Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann raised the pressure on governments to agree to a Greek bailout without the European Central Bank taking part in easing the country’s debt burden, saying the euro can withstand a default. Weidmann said the ECB was unwilling to turn its emergency bond-buying program into a “lasting institution” and that Greece’s implementation of austerity measures and asset sales was crucial to securing the handout to prevent a default. He spoke in an interview with German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

ECB and Germany May Be Forced to Compromise (Source: Bloomberg)
The confrontation between the European Central Bank and Germany over bailing out Greece risks causing so much damage that officials may be forced to compromise. “The balance of forces in the euro zone is a little like it was in the Cold War: both sides are brandishing deterrents that would be too horrendous to use,” said Philip Whyte, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform in London. “It’s all going to turn on whether you can fiddle with debt maturities without calling it a credit event.”

Euro Trades Near Two-Week Low Versus Dollar on Greek Bailout Concerns (Source: Bloomberg)
The euro traded 0.3 percent from a two-week low against the dollar after Luxembourg’s Jean-Claude Juncker said a bailout for Greece must include “voluntary” investor participation and meet the approval of central bankers.

FOREX-Euro hit by uncertainty about Greek debt aid
LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - The euro fell against the dollar on Friday and could extend its losses as worries over Greek debt return to centre stage while investors scale back expectations of the pace of European Central Bank interest rate hikes.
Investors received mixed messages about the progress of debt assistance to Greece, with Germany sticking to its demand that private investors contribute to a second bailout even after renewed ECB opposition to any investor participation that might be deemed involuntary.

Corn (Source: CME)
US corn futures end mixed, retreating from early gains that sent July to a new all-time record for front-month corn. July surged as high as $7.99 on dwindling near-term supplies before prices retreated. Although USDA kept old crop end stocks at 730 million bushels Thursday, not all of that is "going to be available in the marketplace," as farmers think they'll get better prices later on, Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities says. Deferred contracts slipped amid a stronger dollar and profit-taking. July CBOT corn ends up 1 1/2 cents to $7.87 while Dec corn closes down 1 1/2 cents to $7.12 1.2.

Wheat (Source: CME)
US wheat futures finished mixed, with soft red wheat traded in Chicago rallying on expectations for increased demand from livestock producers looking for cheaper feed ingredients to corn. Corn is trading at premium to wheat, reaching an all-time high in the process. Prices for wheat are normally higher than corn, and the divergence could lead to more wheat feeding. CBOT July wheat jumped 1.9% to $7.59 1/4 a bushel while KCBT July dropped 3 1/4c to $8.68 and MGE July fell 2% to $10.00.

Rice (Source: CME)
US rice futures end slightly lower in a correction from recent gains, as a stronger dollar pressures commodities generally. Prices had rallied Thursday after the USDA slashed production estimates thanks to bad weather in the US South. But world supplies of rice are considered ample. CBOT July rice ends down 4 1/2 cents to $14.89 1/2 per hundredweight.

Corn eases from record high, fundamentals strong
SYDNEY, June 10 (Reuters) - U.S. corn futures pulled back from record highs struck on Thursday when the U.S. government estimated U.S. and global stocks were likely to be tighter than the market had expected. "Corn stocks in 2011/12 are now expected to be tighter than the current season, implying that the current record high prices will need to persist for some time yet," Luke Mathews, an agricultural commodities strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said in a market report.

Global corn supply tightens as U.S. grows less
WASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - Global corn supplies will be much tighter next year than forecast a month ago, the U.S. government said on Thursday as it unexpectedly cut its estimate for the U.S. crop and forecast a jump in demand from China.
Chicago corn futures briefly spiked to an all-time high after the U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) said rains and floods prevented farmers from planting all the corn they had intended, cutting the likely size of the crop by 2 percent, an unusual revision just weeks ahead of its annual June survey.

Ageing farmers threaten Indonesian food security
KARAWANG, Indonesia, June 10 (Reuters Life!) - Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous nation, has committed itself to beefing up food security plans as a result.
It aims for self-sufficiency in rice by increasing output to 75.7 million tonnes by 2014 through improving yields and increasing crop areas in east Indonesia. The 2009 yield was around 50 million tonnes.

Russia ministries back grain export tariff-report
MOSCOW, June 10 (Reuters) - Russia's economy and agriculture ministries support a proposal by central bank governor Sergei Ignatyev to introduce a floating tariff on grain exports, a source at the agriculture ministry told Kommersant newspaper.
Ignatyev mooted the proposal, which would be modelled on the country's floating oil export duty, earlier this month in order to curb domestic prices when Russia returns to the export market in July.

Ukraine grain exports jump in June 1-8
KIEV, June 10 (Reuters) - Ukraine boosted its grain exports to 159,400 tonnes in June 1-8 from 32,700 in the same period in May after the government removed export restrictions, ProAgro agriculture consultancy said on Friday.
ProAgro said Ukraine had exported 101,300 tonnes of maize and 58,100 tonnes of wheat so far this month.

China floods kill 34 in drought-hit provinces
BEIJING, June 10 (Reuters) - Torrential rain in two drought-stricken central China provinces triggered landslides and brought down houses, killing at least 34 people and leaving 30 missing, state media said on Friday.
The two provinces were among the worst hit by a severe drought in recent months that hit millions of hectares of farmland in central and southern China along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze river.

UK Declares Drought In Some Parts; Crops Yields Fall (Source: CME)
Parts of the U.K. are now in the grip of drought and the affected zone could spread if areas of central and south-eastern England do not receive rainfall soon, the U.K.'s farm ministry and Environment Agency said. Parts of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and western Norfolk are all suffering following the driest spring on record in south-east and central southern England, with parts of the Midlands, south-west and south-east of England in a "near-drought" state. "Water companies are confident that supplies are high enough so that widespread restrictions to the public are unlikely," said Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman. Farmers, water companies and environment groups will discuss ways to conserve water usage and another meeting is planned towards the end of the month, a spokeswoman for the agency said. Worst-hit East Anglia accounts for 53% of the U.K.'s sugar beet output, 17% of wheat and 13% of barley output.
Forecaster WeatherEdge Ltd. warned wheat yields could drop as much as 15% in 2011-12 due to the dry weather, putting pressure on already near-record-high prices for U.K. feed wheat. "If the dry weather continues, yields could be severely affected in the driest regions," said the Home Grown Cereals Authority. The news comes as farmers in Western Europe's largest wheat growers, France and Germany, are in a state of crisis. France will make available around EUR1 billion of aid through a variety of mechanisms to help farmers suffering from the impact of drought, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Thursday. Across the Atlantic, U.S. farmers' production hopes are diminishing due to extremes of dryness and rainfall in key growing regions, causing fears of a return to supply deficit in world wheat markets in the 2011-12 crop. In the U.K., the situation is less severe, with widespread hosepipe bans looking unlikely at this stage.
But the head of communications for Severn Trent Water Rob Salmon said the company may bring in restrictions in some areas "unless we see a return to seasonal average rainfall." "Low river flows also impact on business, as it abstracts millions of gallons from rivers on a daily basis and we need to ensure this is sustainable," said Paul Leinster, Environment Agency's chief executive. Some analysts are drawing comparison with the drought of 1976, when the U.K. government imposed a widespread ban on water use after a dry winter and spring sapped groundwater supplies. Crop losses amounted to an estimated GBP500 million that year, sending food prices surging 12%. U.K. wheat prices have surged 15% on the back of the drought and analysts forecast European prices may top the three-year highs reached in February if the drought continues to hurt output.
Chief economist at the U.K.'s National Farmers Union Phil Bicknell said losses are unlikely to rise to that kind of level this year as the problems are much more localized. But he added that the broader picture of drought in Europe and problems in the U.S. would put pressure on U.K. prices going forward. "As an industry we're increasingly adapting to our environment but to do that we need investment and to do that we need a profitable farming industry," he said.

Philippine group sees no need for extra feed wheat imports
MANILA, June 10 (Reuters) - Philippine feed millers have secured deals for the supply of 600,000 tonnes of feed wheat early this year and are not inclined to buy more for the rest of 2011 given higher output and stable local corn price, an industry official said.
The Southeast Asian country's feed wheat purchases this year could be limited to just about two-thirds of the 2010 volume of 900,000 tonnes, Norman Ramos, president of the Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc (PAFMI), told reporters late on Thursday.

China feed mills shifting to more cheap wheat from corn
BEIJING, June 10 (Reuters) - China's feed mills are using more cheap wheat as a substitute for corn, with wheat prices now 9.3 percent below corn as the wheat harvest nears, traders said on Friday.
Chinese farmers have finished harvesting half their wheat crop this week and the government has said it expects a bumper harvest.

India On Track For Bumper Rice Output With Key States Eyeing Jump (Source: CME)
Two of India's top rice-producing regions are expecting a jump in output during the main summer season with the timely arrival of seasonal monsoon rains, putting the country on track for a bumper output of the grain. While the southern state of Andhra Pradesh is expecting its rice output to rise by 21% to 9.1 million metric tons, the northern state of Uttar Pradesh expects production of the grain staple to climb to an all-time high of 13.5 million tons. "Rice Production is going to be on the higher side with a normal monsoon," M. Sudhakar, special secretary of agriculture, Andhra Pradesh government, said. He said the rice cultivation area is expected to increase only marginally during this summer season to 2.95 million hectares, but better distribution of fertilizers, hybrid seeds as well as rains will all help boost the output of India's top rice producer.
Higher rice production in the two states will be critical to India achieving its target of harvesting around 100 million tons of rice during 2011-12 as the country gears up to introduce a food security law that guarantees cheap grains to nearly 70% of the population. India's rice output is estimated at 94.11 million tons during the crop year ending June. Rice sowing starts with the monsoon's arrival, which has covered the southern state of Andhra Pradesh after reaching India's mainland two days before the forecast May 31. The rains have since maintained their progress, but they usually reach the northern state of Uttar Pradesh by the end of June.

India raises rice purchase price 8 pct
NEW DELHI, June 9 (Reuters) - India raised the support price at which it buys rice from farmers by around eight percent, the government said in a statement on Thursday, a move aimed at encouraging more planting of the food crop during the current monsoon season.
India already has bulging stocks of rice after a bumper harvest last year and expectations are for at least the same amount of acreage to be planted in the coming crop year as for 2010/11.

Australian 2011-12 Wheat Crop Outlook Upbeat (Source: CME)
Australia's winter cropping season has started well in the major growing regions and big crops are forecast, although the winter rainfall outlook for Western Australia--usually the nation's largest grain producer--suggests below-average falls are likely there. In South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria states, "conditions remain highly favorable for above-average yields" while the decay of the La Nina climate event in the Pacific "augurs well for a high quality grain harvest" late in 2011, agricultural lender Rabobank Australia. The U.S. Department of Agriculture added 500,000 metric tons to its Australian wheat production forecast for this crop year to 25.0 million tons, which is consistent with other projections. The government's chief commodities forecaster, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics & Sciences, estimates output at 24.3 million tons this crop year ending March 31, which if achieved would be down 7.6% from a year ago.
Australia is usually among the world's top wheat exporters, along with the U.S., Russia, Canada and Europe. After annual domestic demand of around 6.0 million tons is met, the balance is available for exports. Australian output last crop year was crimped by a severe drought in Western Australia, where output fell to 4.7 million tons from 8.1 million tons the previous year. But Western Australia received drought-breaking rains in May, and Rabobank projects output will rise to 7.6 million tons this crop year, a forecast that it said seems more likely now than even just a few weeks ago. While the government's Bureau of Meteorology expects winter rainfall to be below average in winter, the timing of rainfall during the growing season will be critical, Rabobank reported.

China Corn Storage Facilities "Well Under Capacity" - USGC (Source: CME)
Corn is competing with fruits, vegetables and urbanization for land in China this year, while corn storage facilities appeared to be under-used, the U.S. Grains Council in a new report. The report, concluded after a recent study trip to China by a council team, suggests corn stock levels remained relatively low. "We had the opportunity to visit some private corn storage facilities, which we felt were well under capacity," the report quoted Ken Kindler of Dow AgriSciences LLC, adding there was no certainty on measurements of state corn stock levels. "Farmers sold most of their 2010 production at harvest." China emerged last year as a net corn importer, and analysts expect the import trend to rise given the speed and scale of China's demand for commodities. Still, China's corn production this year may rise. Corn planting acreage for 2011 is expected to increase marginally, as farmers switched to corn after a price rally in 2010, the USGC team said.
But the council noted that "there is also increased competition for acres from fruits and vegetables, particularly near urban areas. Some land was unplanted and attributed to increased urban encroachment." In the major producing provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin, the council team noted that corn emergence was behind normal levels due to rainy weather and low temperatures, and that germination was "spotty" in some locations.

Coffee, cocoa rise, sugar steady, firm dollar weighs
LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - ICE arabica coffee futures firmed early with upside capped by Brazil's harvest and a stronger dollar, while cocoa edged up, with gains limited by a steady flow of supplies from top producer Ivory Coast. Liffe white sugar futures were little changed around two-month highs, underpinned by tight supplies during a period of high demand before Ramadan in August.

Crude Oil Declines for a Second Day on U.S., China Economic Growth Concern (Source: Bloomberg)
Oil dropped for a second day in New York ahead of reports that may show slowing economic growth in the U.S. and China, curbing fuel demand in the world’s two largest crude consumers. Future slumped as much as 0.6 percent, extending declines after the biggest single-session drop in four weeks on June 10. Sales at U.S. retailers probably fell in May for the first time in 11 months as car buying eased and elevated gasoline costs restrained consumers. A report tomorrow may show China’s industrial production slowed.

Essar to Buy More Indonesian, Australian Resources to Meet India’s Demand (Source: Bloomberg)
Essar Group plans to acquire more coal and iron ore assets in Indonesia, Australia and Africa as it seeks to boost supply to meet domestic Indian needs, Chief Executive Officer Prashant Ruia said. “We’re looking at investing overseas, including in Indonesia, Australia and Africa to access natural resources,” Ruia said in a Bloomberg TV interview at the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Jakarta yesterday. “Coal and iron ore are two major possibilities and, going forward, oil and gas.”

Europe metals premiums steady, Chinese demand eyed
LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - Premiums for physical metals in Europe remained little changed in the past week, with traders eyeing the return of top consumer China.
The premium for copper in Rotterdam , paid above the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price , was at around $75-85 a tonne versus $70-80 in late May, traders said.

Chinese aluminium prices seen capped in June-July by new capacity
HONG KONG, June 9 (Reuters) - Chinese aluminium prices may be capped by record production and weaker demand over the coming two months as new capacity comes online, which could lead to a boost semi-finished product exports, industry sources said on Thursday.
Monthly production in China, the world's top producer and consumer of primary aluminium, is expected to reach fresh record highs in June and July as an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of new annual capacity is slated to come on stream.

China May copper imports fall 3 pct, seen up in June
HONG KONG, June 10 (Reuters) - China's imports of unwrought copper and semi-finished copper products dropped 3 percent on the month in May because of high stocks, but traders said extra bookings placed in May will raise June arrivals.
High bonded stocks in Shanghai limited China's imports of refined copper, the most popular form of the metal in the Chinese and international markets, missing analyst forecasts for a small increase.

US copper imports up despite weaker housing sector
NEW YORK, June 9 (Reuters) - Inbound shipments of copper into the United States rose for a second-straight month in April to their highest levels since March 2009, as fragments of the economy continued to thrive even as housing weakened further.
Data from the U.S. international Trade Commission on Thursday showed April copper imports climbed to 73,061 tonnes from 66,166 tonnes in March, to stand at their highest since March 2009, when imports came to 79,975 tonnes.

Strike nears end at Chile copper mine, output rises
SANTIAGO, June 9 (Reuters) - Output should return to normal in days at the world's No. 5 copper mine, El Teniente in Chile, after thousands of contractors abandoned a 16-day strike that seems near its end, the company said.
Staff workers also decided to return to work on Friday after strikers began wage talks with their employers to resolve a sometimes violent 16-day walkout that is losing strength.

China's iron ore imports up 0.8 pct in May, June may fall
SHANGHAI, June 10 (Reuters) - China's iron ore imports rose 0.8 percent to 53.3 million tonnes in May from the previous month, official data from China's customs authority showed on Friday.
Chinese steel mills, which usually consume two-thirds of seaborne iron ore, have raced to expand production since this year, despite Beijing's tightening moves to tame inflation and curb the hot property market.

METALS-Copper down after Chinese May imports fall
LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - Copper dipped on Friday after Chinese trade data showed a surprising fall in copper imports last month, but expectations that June inflows could pick up limited losses.
Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.5 percent at $9,010 a tonne at 0954 GMT, after closing at $9,055 on Thursday.

PRECIOUS-Gold holds near $1,540/oz as debt crisis simmers
LONDON, June 10 (Reuters) - Gold prices retreated a touch on Friday, under pressure from a firmer dollar, but concerns over the euro zone debt crisis kept prices firmly underpinned as they boosted the metal's haven appeal.
Spot gold was bid at $1,540.11 an ounce at 1137 GMT, against $1,543.60 late in New York on Thursday. U.S. gold futures for August delivery eased $1.30 to $1,541.40.

Soybeans (Source: CME)
US soybean futures end lower, continuing to correct from recent highs on government data showing less threatening year-end supplies while there was also broader-based commodity weakness. Traders trimmed premium from the market as futures lacked fresh support to justify higher prices, analysts said, nevermind the weekend approaching and the dollar rising. CBOT July soybeans end down 0.5% at $13.87 1/4 a bushel.

Soybean Meal/Oil (Source: CME)
Soymeal futures continued to garner support from firm cash prices amid the risk of supply disruptions due to flooding on the Missouri River while soyoil stumbled, succumbing to spillover weakness in soybeans and crude-oil futures. CBOT July soymeal ended up 0.1% at $373.30/short ton while July soyoil settled down 1% at 56.85c/pound.

Palm oil dips as glut of data drags prices lower
JAKARTA, June 10 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil prices eased flirting with one-month lows on a flurry of bearish data that could lead to further losses later in the session. "It's quite bearish and slightly higher than many people's expectations," said one trader. "It's a bit on the high side and will pressure prices." "USDA was more on the bearish side," he added. "People were expecting a higher stocks forecast ... there could be some short covering and prices may go down further."

India's May vegoil imports seen up as local supply falls
NEW DELHI, June 10 (Reuters) - India's vegetable oil imports may have risen by 37 percent in May, the second straight monthly rise, as local supply dropped on depleting oilseeds stocks ahead of the summer planting season, a trend that is likely to continue next month, a Reuters survey showed on Friday.
Palm oil imports, which account for the bulk of India's cooking purchases, are expected to have risen 50 percent in May over the previous month, according to a survey of eight traders.

Malaysia's palm oil stocks at 16-month high
KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 (Reuters) - Malaysia's May palm oil stocks rose nearly 15 percent to their highest in 16 months as production overtook exports, potentially weighing on benchmark futures.
May output rose 13.7 percent to 1.74 million tonnes from April as yield continued to soar after two years of unfavourable crop conditions.

China imported 4.56 mln tonnes of soy in May - Customs
BEIJING, June 10 (Reuters) - China, the world's largest soy buyer, imported 4.56 million tonnes of soybeans in May, up 17.5 percent from 3.88 million tonnes in April, figures from the General Administration of Customs of China showed.
Imports of vegetable oils in May were 390,000 tonnes, down 20.4 percent from the previous month.

Argentina soy output seen at 50.3 mln T-exchange
BUENOS AIRES, June 9 (Reuters) - Argentina's 2010/11 soy output is seen totaling 50.3 million tonnes, up slightly from the 50.2 million tonnes forecast last month, the Rosario grains exchange said on Thursday.
Argentina is the world's No. 3 soybean exporter and the biggest soymeal and soyoil supplier. The Agriculture Ministry expects this season's soy crop, which farmers have nearly finished harvesting, at 50.4 million tonnes.

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